We can arrange to stay open a little longer for early evening viewings. Please call ahead.

Christmas and the New Year

We will be closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. Otherwise our opening times will be as usual.

In January we take the opportunity to undertake refurbishments in each gallery, so if you are making a special trip or are looking for something specific it is best to phone ahead as there may be the odd day that we are closed.

Akiyama’s high-impact floral and abstract canvases combine an impressionistic style with a technical approach based on an extensive study of Japanese brush painting, creating a distinctive fusion of eastern and western artistry.

Danielle will be showcasing a selection of her original artworks and collectable limited editions from 1pm.

]]>Meet the Artist Danielle O’Connor Akiyama in September…http://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/meet-the-artist-danielle-oconnor-akiyama-in-september/
Tue, 05 Jun 2018 10:57:04 +0000http://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/?p=16435This September 16th our Ilfracombe gallery will host a unique exhibition featuring Canadian artist Danielle O’Connor Akiyama. A World-renowned artist, Akiyama will be showcasing a special selection of her original artworks and collectable limited editions. Danielle has enjoyed major international success as an artist for over 30 years. She has spent much of her life … Continue reading Meet the Artist Danielle O’Connor Akiyama in September…→

This September 16th our Ilfracombe gallery will host a unique exhibition featuring Canadian artist Danielle O’Connor Akiyama. A World-renowned artist, Akiyama will be showcasing a special selection of her original artworks and collectable limited editions.

Danielle has enjoyed major international success as an artist for over 30 years. She has spent much of her life travelling, and has exhibited her vibrant and exquisite masterpieces to great acclaim all over the world. She regards painting as a brilliant and joyful form of expression. Inspired deeply from her travels, she would come home to paint and tell “the stories” with her brush.

“Harkening back to the original concept of my work, the genesis… the fundaments of what inspired my paintbrush from the beginning, I return to the elemental” she says. “The great forces in nature of wind, earth, water and fire fuel the creative flow, and as an artist it is important to honour the simple, basic qualities that are the foundation – the mother lode of enduring beauty.”

Akiyama’s high-impact floral and abstract canvases combine an impressionistic style with a technical approach based on an extensive study of Japanese brush painting, creating a distinctive fusion of eastern and western artistry, which has led to her works being highly prized by art collectors from both sides of the Pacific.

For more information, or to RSVP to this exciting event please contact your nearest Driftwood Gallery.

]]>Doug Hyde in Ilfracombe this August!http://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/doug-hyde-in-ilfracombe-this-august/
Tue, 05 Jun 2018 10:52:38 +0000http://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/?p=16427We are delighted to announce that acclaimed artist Doug Hyde will be visiting our Ilfracombe Gallery on August the 18th this year! Doug will be attending a special exhibition of his works, including Original pieces, sought after Signed Limited Editions, and also his exquisite sculptures. In 2002 Doug Hyde was a young artist painting pictures … Continue reading Doug Hyde in Ilfracombe this August!→

]]>We are delighted to announce that acclaimed artist Doug Hyde will be visiting our Ilfracombe Gallery on August the 18th this year!

Doug will be attending a special exhibition of his works, including Original pieces, sought after Signed Limited Editions, and also his exquisite sculptures.

In 2002 Doug Hyde was a young artist painting pictures for his family and friends. During the 3 years that followed, Doug made a name for himself on a BBC News Programme as the UK’s Most Popular Living Artist, after winning an award from the Fine Art Trade guild as the “Best Selling Published Artist 2005”.

By 2006 his 100th edition had already sold out and Doug Hyde has been the subject of no fewer than 5 published books! He has never lost his optimism and enthusiasm, nor departed from the realities of life, family and relationships, and remains humble and dedicated to his work. His family are of utmost importance to him and he tries to evoke in the viewer the same emotions and connections as he feels and observes within his own his family when creating his works.

Doug Hyde’s work with children’s charities; “Look Good, Feel Better”, “Families for Children” and “Children In Need” is not only indicative of his love for family and protecting his own children, but also his wish to help children all over the world. For the BBC’s Children In Need campaign, Doug created a special Pudsey Bear Signed Limited Edition release, reminding us of the importance of love, friendship and security in all our lives. He also donated the Original Painting to the Children In Need auction at the Savoy Hotel and raised £14,000! Doug Hyde’s charity work is also a testament to his success on British and International platforms, as people search from all over the world to collect his works.

Famous collectors of Doug’s artwork include World golfing Champion Rory McIlroy MBE, English football Manager Roy Hodgson and english Hollywood actress Emily Blunt.

Doug Hyde will be making a special appearance at our Ilfracombe gallery on Saturday 18th August from 4 – 6pm to meet his collectors, and will be available to dedicate works purchased at the event.

This will be a fabulous event with such a sought-after artist and we look forward to seeing you there!

]]>Driftwood Gallery Ilfracombe Christmas Event will run alongside the fantastic Combe Christmas celebrations in Ropery Road Car Park. Browse the stalls at the Christmas Market, listen to some carols and drop in to the gallery to enjoy some beautiful artwork, drinks and nibbles!

All Welcome!

Sunday 26th November 2- 6pm

There is also the chance to win a stunning signed limited edition by Henderson Cisz which has been entered into the Charity Raffle. Tickets are on sale in the gallery and other outlets around Ilfracombe. Other prizes include £250 cash, holiday vouchers, meals out and much more…

We also have 50% off our handmade designer jewellery.

Let’s get into the Christmas spirit and celebrate the start of the festive season!

]]>Driftwood Contemporary St Ives Supporting the RNLIhttp://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/driftwood-contemporary-st-ives-supporting-the-rnli/
Sat, 11 Nov 2017 13:51:00 +0000http://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/?p=16023Driftwood Contemporary St. Ives will be holding a charity raffle Thursday 14th December from 6pm for the RNLI. Please come and join us for complimentary mince pies and drinks. Rozanne Bell – The UK’s top selling original artist will be commissioning a special painting for the event which will be included in our raffle along … Continue reading Driftwood Contemporary St Ives Supporting the RNLI→

]]>Driftwood Contemporary St. Ives will be holding a charity raffle Thursday 14th December from 6pm for the RNLI. Please come and join us for complimentary mince pies and drinks.

Rozanne Bell – The UK’s top selling original artist will be commissioning a special painting for the event which will be included in our raffle along with lots of other amazing prizes. In return we will be offering 10% off all artwork on the evening of the event.

Raffles tickets are £1 each. If you would like to purchase your tickets, simply donate to justgiving.com/driftwoodcontemporary with your name and how many tickets in the comments box. You can then simply email or phone us your telephone number so you can be successfully added to the draw or feel free to pop into the gallery to purchase them there!

]]>Meet the Artist – Rozanne Bellhttp://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/meet-the-artist-rozanne-bell/
Sat, 05 Aug 2017 18:19:46 +0000http://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/?p=15931Rozanne Bell is the UK’s top selling artist of original art work and we are delighted to announce that the heart warming artist will be here in attendance at Driftwood Contemporary St.Ives on Sunday 27th August. Born in 1962 in Zimbabwe, Rozanne lived in her native home for 40 years, where her self-taught, natural … Continue reading Meet the Artist – Rozanne Bell→

]]>Rozanne Bell is the UK’s top selling artist of original art work and we are delighted to announce that the heart warming artist will be here in attendance at Driftwood Contemporary St.Ives on Sunday 27th August.

Born in 1962 in Zimbabwe, Rozanne lived in her native home for 40 years, where her self-taught, natural talent and extraordinary approach attracted attention and exhibition all over South Africa.

In 2002, the volatile situation in Zimbabwe invited Rozanne to consider a new life in the United Kingdom with her husband and 5 children. Her ability to adapt to a new environment along side with her enthusiastic drive to thrive had brought a breath of fresh air to the British art market and created a strong international following with high demands for her paintings.

Rozanne has a fun, flamboyant and gregarious character that creates a unique imagination, full of originality and wit. Her art mirrors her amazing qualities being full of energy, vibrant, exciting and entertaining.

The latest works by Rozanne demonstrate her distinctive view of an architectural landscape surrounding an inquisitive and imaginative atmosphere. Her memories and influence of her native country are reflected in the vibrancy and depth of her paintings. Rozanne’s sense of fun and creative integrity combine to create highly anticipated microcosms inhabited by the peoples of one’s imagination. She has forged a reputation for her courageous, punchy and colourful compositions, which take in the British coast; covering the seaside, daytime painting portray sun soaked shores bustling with holiday makers, which softly gives way to quiet moonlight harbour scenes. Her love of the Dorset countryside where she lives, and the coves and harbours of Cornwall have a great influence in her work.

Rozanne focuses primarily on contemporary taste for naïve art, which her artistic methods are demonstrated in each of her paintings, which incorporates a complexity and variety of mixed media. The end result is a spectacular depth of colour and texture. Her steady search for new techniques and subject matter ensures that her skills are constantly evolving to produce a wide variety of art, all iconically recognisable.
There will be a wonderful selection of Rozanne’s latest artwork for sale in our gallery and a chance for you to meet and discuss with her about her art and inspiration. We urge you to contact the gallery for more details if you would like to take this opportunity to experience this wonderful exhibition yourself.

]]>“Beyond the Sea” exhibitions at Driftwood…http://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/beyond-the-sea-exhibitions-at-driftwood/
Fri, 28 Jul 2017 16:20:01 +0000http://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/?p=15903Join us in the gallery to view new exhibitions of original paintings and collectable editions that summon up the drama, romance and irresistible charm of the ocean. The diverse collections embrace a fabulous array of styles and genres, ranging from the luminous landscapes of Philip Gray to the captivating harbours of Rebecca Lardner. Or, from … Continue reading “Beyond the Sea” exhibitions at Driftwood…→

]]>Rare Kerry Darlington Originals at Padstow and St Ives!http://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/rare-kerry-darlington-originals-at-padstow-and-st-ives/
Tue, 04 Jul 2017 10:02:40 +0000http://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/?p=15881We had an amazing event, with Kerry, on the 11th of June at our Ilfracombe gallery…thank you so much to all who came along and helped create a truly memorable day. It was fantastic to meet her and hear about her inspirations. We also had some incredibly rare and sought after originals at the event, … Continue reading Rare Kerry Darlington Originals at Padstow and St Ives!→

]]>We had an amazing event, with Kerry, on the 11th of June at our Ilfracombe gallery…thank you so much to all who came along and helped create a truly memorable day.

It was fantastic to meet her and hear about her inspirations. We also had some incredibly rare and sought after originals at the event, which are now available to view at our Padstow and St Ives galleries, for a limited time.

The originals of published pieces Peter Pan (in Neverland) and Young Pan are well worth a trip to see, as well as some special pieces from the “Tree of Life” and “Wild and Free” series …do pop down we would love to see you.

]]>Meet the Artist Kerry Darlington!….http://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/meet-the-artist-kerry-darlington/
Wed, 10 May 2017 14:49:58 +0000http://driftwoodcontemporaryart.co.uk/?p=15807Meet Artist Kerry Darlington at Driftwood Contemporary on Sunday 11th June, 1-3pm “The greatest art in the world is the art of storytelling.” Cecil B. DeMille, Filmmaker Kerry Darlington and the art of storytelling Kerry Darlington is one of the most sought after and influential artists at work in the … Continue reading Meet the Artist Kerry Darlington!….→

Kerry Darlington is one of the most sought after and influential artists at work in the UK and she will be at Driftwood Contemporary Art in Ilfracombe this June to delight her devoted collectors with her boundless creative gift, technical brilliance, mastery of colour and above all, her infinite imagination – all of which has have taken her far beyond the everyday and turned her into a fine art sensation.

The haunting beauty of Kerry’s work grows from a unique combination of pattern, nature, energy and nostalgia. Her stunning three dimensional mixed media pieces are unmistakable in style and completely individual, revolving around the theme of myths and legends, poetry and stories. She creates her spellbinding narrative images with a range of materials including resin and metallics. She achieves a unique, translucent texture through the accumulation of layers which adds both depth and light.

Her published works are described as ‘unique editions’ as they combine a printed element with original art. Kerry creates small 3D additions which are hand-worked individually and adhered to the print. The background is also hand embellished, and all the work has resin hand-applied which gives a stunning reflective quality. Therefore although they are in essence a limited edition print, every piece has the appearance of a unique original painting.

Kerry’s passion for art was inspired by a love of beautifully illustrated books as a child. Influenced by the mystery, magic of these stories and poetry, the fairy tales that inspired her childhood now inspire her artwork. As a child Kerry read all of Enid Blyton books and it was The Magic Faraway Tree in particular that entranced her and is the reason she believes that trees are so dominant in her compositions. It was with great pride that Kerry was given special permission to illustrate her favourite book in 2013.

Kerry’s career began with a degree in illustration in 1996, and she originally intended to pursue a career as a children’s book illustrator. She had been introduced to illustrated books from an early age by her mother who owned a few first editions illustrated by Arthur Rackham, who is widely regarded as one of the leading illustrators from the ‘Golden Age’ of British book illustration which roughly encompassed the years from 1890 until the end of the First World War.

With the Influence of the Pre-Raphaelites and Art Nouveau also clearly evident in her creations, Kerry’ believes that her work sits somewhere between fine art and illustration – in fact she believes that she has reinvented illustration in a modern contemporary way. The memories created as a child are a continuous source of inspiration for her work. Classic British books have been a great inspiration to her, especially Disney adapted stories of Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland and she endeavours to recreate the scenes from these prized fairy-tales in a very British way.

Kerry’s work is in huge demand and in 2012, and again in 2014 she was named as the UK’s best-selling published artist for her extraordinary unique editions. Her boundless desire to experiment and develop her innovative technique will no doubt ensure that she continues to be celebrated as one of the most popular artist on the contemporary art market. Kerry will be travelling from her studio in North Wales to join the team at Driftwood Contemporary in Ilfracombe on the afternoon of Sunday 11th June and we would urge you to contact the gallery for more details if you would like to take this rare opportunity to meet with her and experience this wonderful exhibition yourself.